No news of an 11th, let alone a 12th team, although Ultimate Motorsports were rumoured to buy Mateschitz's 50% stake in Toro Rosso.

Legend:Bold red is team nameBold black is contracted and/or confirmed car and engine name and numberRegular black is contracted and/or confirmed driverBlue is probable/possible/rumoured sponsor, engine or driver

About the starting numbers: Kubica winning the 2009 WDC is just a guess; Toyota should finally be able to beat Renault, although this might be wishful thinking; Newey's Red Bull-Ferrari beats Williams, Honda and the sister team's Toro Rosso-Renault.

Originally posted by Philzippy I never thought about Fernando having two F1 seats - guess it makes sense... he can pick and chose on a track by track basis which one is best and pick up two mega paychecks - he has a great manager.

In case you are honestly wondering why Alonso is named more than once: the legend explains how some names are listed in blue because there are persistent rumours about a possible new contract. Since most rumours are about drivers without a solid contract, it makes sense he will be listed under more than one team.

Di Resta has to be in the picture for the Mclaren drive now. There are rumours about Mclaren signing Kubica up after his 2009 BMW contract runs out, like they did with Montoya and Alonso, too. Unless Kova improves markedly, he's in big trouble, and even if he does, he might find himself needing a new team.

Di Resta has to be in the picture for the Mclaren drive now. There are rumours about Mclaren signing Kubica up after his 2009 BMW contract runs out, like they did with Montoya and Alonso, too. Unless Kova improves markedly, he's in big trouble, and even if he does, he might find himself needing a new team.

I don't think Kubica will go to McLaren, he knows all too well that's Team Hamilton. I think if Di Resta impresses in testing they will sign him for one year as a test driver and then have Heikki replaced by him in 2010.

No news of an 11th, let alone a 12th team, although Ultimate Motorsports were rumoured to buy Mateschitz's 50% stake in Toro Rosso.

Legend:Bold red is team nameBold black is contracted and/or confirmed car and engine name and numberRegular black is contracted and/or confirmed driverBlue is probable/possible/rumoured sponsor, engine or driver

Nico has contract until the end of 2009, not 2010, and he already said that if the FW31 is not enough competitive to score podiums regulary and even some wins he won't stay any longer

There is no evident sense of panic with Nico at getting into a front-running car, and he seems content to bide his time. At the moment, his reputation with team bosses is still very good, so he can afford to hold on and wait for the right opportunity to arise. I can see him at BMW in the future, as Keke might caution against going to McLaren, given what happened to him in '86 - that is, going in there as team-mate to an established driver...

Originally posted by Arion Vettel is younger and probably more talented.

He might end out of reach for bmw driving a ferrari though. Perhaps Nico would be the best German available then, unless Schumi returns. B tw Nico is contracted to Williams for 2010 as well I read on another website today.

Originally posted by COUGAR508 Keke might caution against going to McLaren, given what happened to him in '86 - that is, going in there as team-mate to an established driver...

Seriously, do you really expect everyone do have grudges on their former teams when a season went worse then they hoped?

Keke was like 38 years old in 1986. I think he can remember very well what "happened to him" as you say. Just because he wasnt very successful doesn't mean he thinks he was done wrong with by the team...

When? In 2010? Replacing Trulli? Would make two German drivers then, perhaps not good for worldvise advertising. Or dropping Glock despite contract?

Yes, employing 2 drivers from the same country may be the main counterargument, but I don't think it makes such moves entirely impossible. Sauber had two Germans in 2003, Jaguar two Brits in 2000.

After all, we will have so many Germans in F1 that maybe some of them have to drive in the same team as if it will become difficult to put them all into different competitive teams.

Maybe current Williams test driver Hulkenberg becomes a race driver in 2010, then we will have again the same 2-drivers-from-the-same-country-problem unless Rosberg leaves. Then he will have to leave surely if that's a "big problem"? Or will Hulk go elsewhere?

Probably. What else is there to do for him, if he can't secure an F1 drive?

He wont' get a race seat in 2009, Renault's line-up in confirmed. I guess he will continue to be the team's test driver.I'm just surprised he won't be with ART next season, maybe Renault thinks ART is no longer a top team?

I sorta think Hulk will be forcing Maldonado into loads of mistakes and end up better in the championship. Pastor is overrated. He is fast sometimes but he lacks consistency and cleverness. If he goes on like that he'll have a terribly hard time against Hulk.

Kubica to McLaren may surprise some, but there are some rumours he isn't fully happy at BMW and didn't want longer than a 1-year-contract. Expect this to be Montoya- and Alonso-like announcement already before 2009 season. So Kubica's situation may be pretty much like Montoya's was with Williams then. Yes, many claim that McLaren has favoritism towards Hamilton and that's why Kubica won't go there, but this favoritism talk about McLaren has existed forever - didn't prevent those two Spanish-speaking guys from going there though.

After second successive disappointing season Renault hires another young gun, this time their young drivers' program hopeful from home country. Despite rumours no change at Ferrari until the end of 2010, but Vettel signs with Ferrari for 2011, fulfilling his two-year deal with Red Bull. BMW keeps Heidfeld for continuity's sake, interestingly taking another German alongside him, who has become fed up of Williams, but don't see another driver filling that vacant seat. Senna may or may not race for Honda in 2009, but nonetheless he will be racing there in 2010 together with rejuvenated team leader Button. Toyota makes a strange decision to hire dropped Kovalainen from McLaren, but with valuable top team experience.

The big puzzle for me is which engines will Williams use in 2010. I don't see a new engine manufacturer entering. Ferrari - no way! Mercedes - have already FI partnership. BMW - again? Sounds strange. Renault - have already RB. Honda - dropped recently Super Aguri, don't see them starting to supply another team. So Toyota and Nakajima carry on. STR does its usual "trick" and replaces both drivers at once. Buemi was rushed into F1 too early and this is how his career is ruined - another rookie is brought in. The hiring of experienced Trulli, who appears free on the market, comes as a surprise. Mallya has long-term plans with Sutil, Di Resta comes together with Mercedes. After a lot of debate customer cars will be allowed for 2010, so Force India will run McLaren 09 chassis with STR the Red Bull one.

I'd imagine he'd replace Fisichella. Though deciding who is the best out of the three is a toughie. The reputation and 'buzz' circling Liuzzi in the lower echelons of motor racing never really came to fruition in F1 did it?